Jon Gruden says quarterback Johnny Manziel reminds him of Brett Favre

Brett Favre was known as a gunslinger who was never afraid to make a risky throw. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has met with a number of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft class for his "Gruden Camp" segment, a now annual tradition, and one of the players he sat down with caused the Super Bowl winning head coach to deliver a high amount of praise.

Gruden says that Manziel has a special spark to his game that reminds him of a player he coached as a Green Bay Packers assistant during the 1992-94 seasons. That player? None other than all-time great Brett Favre.

"I'd love to have him [Manziel]," Gruden said, via NFL.com. "It takes courage to pull the ball down and reverse field and do some of the crazy things that Favre and Manziel do. There's going to be consequences when sometimes it doesn't work out. But it takes a tremendous amount of guts and courage to go make a play when there's nothing there instead of throwing the ball away.

"Johnny has a lot of magic to him. There's not a more exciting college football player I've seen in the last few years. He's got more guts than most guys have."

Favre was known for taking risks, which Manziel has also been known to do, but there is no telling whether or not Manziel will be able to have the same kind of success when he takes his talents to the next level.

Manziel may not have impressive arm strength like Favre, but he does bring that same level of passion and excitement that keeps the fans entertained.